I’m not the type of mom to just plop my kid down in front of a t.v., but occassionally it’s the only option I have left. I’d rather he watch something educational, not some mindless cartoon about a sponge at the bottom of an ocean.
Of course I know it’s better to play hands on things with him…this is just for those times that I have something I need to do and he doesn’t want anything else.
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Absolutely Not… it is all just marketing propaganda. Spend some time with youngster, don’t plop them in front of the television.
nope I think they are a gimick. Try to see if your cable has the noggin channel it is all geared at preschoolers.
No! There’s an article in Time magazine, I’m sure you can find it online somewhere, that says it is actually bad for their development! And that they’ll have a harder time in school because they will be use to learning with flashing lights and colors and school will be boring for them (in a way its causing Attention Deficit Disorder)
edit: these thumbs downs are stupid, I wrote exactly what I read in the Time magazine, not my opinion but facts.
I would think that hands on things are better for a child to learn. So you should indeed do more things with him. But if you HAVE to let him watch t.v, I’m sure baby Einstein would be better than sponge bob. I also heard sponge bob has some subliminal messages.
I don’t believe they will make your child any smarter, however if my child is going to watch anything on television I’d rather it be something educational, Sesame Street is a great one. Baby Einstein has books, music and toys that are just as educational and more mind stimulating than the television.
Television is ok in small amounts for kids, but I’d rather my child be out and active any time. But you are right, nothing is worse then that mindless sponge at the bottom of the ocean cartoon! I **** Sponge Bob, lol.
No they don’t. Kids need exposure to all kinds of things. Educational fun videos do play a role but alone are not going to do the trick!
there’s nothing wrong with letting your child watch TV occasionally - don’t feel guilty! Everything’s fine in moderation.
I do feel some of the Einstein videos are educational - I don’t think they necessarily make your baby smarter, but they at least teach things. Baby Wordsworth I felt was particularly good, as it teaches a baby speech and common words. Others, like Baby Mozart - I don’t see the value in that one. Other than hearing Mozart music in the background, all it does is show videos of toys and whatnot. there’s no talking or anything. But, it did keep my kids entertained if I needed a few minutes to get dinner started! 
NOPE!. Why not have the tv off? Why does it have to be on?
we arent fans in this house, but my kids cant sit still long enough for them… they take too long to get to the next item and my kids get bored… and get up and go do something more fun like dig through the pots and pans…
Nothing replaces good old fashioned interaction with mom and siblings. Also, Tactile objects teach children far more at this age than video programs.
Children in their toddler years are exploring their world through interactive play. Better to get your child a set of blocks, supervised crayons (they make chunky ones for young toddlers) and paper, play doh (if age appropriate), a wagon, a bear, doll or other creature toy, etc.
they begin early on to develop a sense of color, shape, and number by interaction with people and different tactile objects. For example, Look, ____ a red ball. or Here are two blue blocks. as you hand them these items, does far more for a child at this age than T.V. or a video. You can’t really reach out and touch the things in a video.
Baby Einstein is such a marketing gimic… kids are learning all the time! Kids are learning while you’re driving the car and they’re looking at the window. They’re learning when they’re outside looking at ants. They’re learning if they’re watching QVC.
Baby Einstein is just another thing big companies want you to buy so you feel like you’re offering your kid the very best!
no i don’t think so they are just a way for big company’s to make more money if you really want to help you kid along try spend time ever day with him or her playing with blocks or coloring it sounds stupid but knowledge comes in steps not all at once i have found that the TV station called noggin is really interesting for baby’s and preschooler if you really need you TV time
LOL! Yeah, and the new Pampers that allegedly help babies move better also make them smarter, just as the commercial implies.
No, Baby Einstein will not make a baby smarter - quite the contrary, in fact. They’re marketed toward babies, children that young shouldn’t be watching TV in the first place. What aids a child’s cognitive development is an involved parent who keeps electronic babysitters to a minimum. Until the child is old enough for TV (the AAP recommends no earlier than 24 months), some toddler - safe blocks should keep your little one occupied.
No…it’s all about the company making money.
I think it makes me poorer 
I think baby einstein is just as mindless as spongebob. I have some of them and they are fine. Anytime I let my kids watch any tv it is purely for their enjoyment. I don’t expect or require tv to teach my child anything. They can have down time too. I am the person responsible for teaching them ….not the tv. If they happen to pick something up along the way…bonus!
I don’t think that they necessarily make your kids smarter. However I know my friends niece used to know what scene was coming up before it would happen. For example she would say monkey and sure enough a monkey would appear. So maybe it helps with memory and anticipation if viewing the same video? It is better than some other cartoons though! I talked to my pediatrician about my daughter’s T.V viewing and she said a lot of the programs are so interactive now that it’s at least some stimulation during a time that they wouldn’t be getting any from you.
ok wow, some of these answers are silly, like you are a bad mom for letting your kid watch tv… No I dont think you should substitute yourself for the tv just so you dont have to deal with your child, but face it… EVERY mom has things that need to be done and cant do with a child. My kids had their color and number skills, etc reinforced from watching shows like barney and baby E. The shows wont bring their IQ up but it certainly can help reiterate things that they are already learning. (fyi- The only thing sponge bob taught them was how to say butthead and boo you stink.) We have a tv on 24 hours a day at my house for background noise but the kids are rarely watching. Usually outside playing or inside playing with games, toys, or looking at books. When you child is small enough though.. bouncy seat in front of Baby E is very entertaining when you need to use the bathroom. And its ok for a baby not to have 24 hour a day interaction with you. They do need to learn independant play and self soothing techniques.
